Process for producing on paper or fabric alpha suede-like finish of waterproof property



1,883,535 ER 0R FABRIC A SUEDE LIKE (`)ct.l 18, 1932. A. BURNETT PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ON PAP FINISH WATERPROOF PROPERTY d Oct. 7, 1929 Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES .ANDRE BURNETT, OF WAUSAU, WISCONSIN PROCESS FOR- PRODUCING ON PAPER OR FABRIC SUDE-LIKE FINISH 0F WATERPROOF PROPERTY Application led October 7, 1929. Serial No. 398,015.

a can be made in various colors and designs,

producing an especially' finished and attracuve appearance.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object resides in the provision of a process for producing paper or fabric with a sudelike finish, consisting of` coating the material with a water-proof adhesive to which is applied comminuted cotton, wool, silk, or similar material, by. distributing the same upon the material and forcing it into intimate contact'with the adhesive surface b means of a blast or jets of air. Therea ter, the fabric or paper is subjected to beating or agitation to remove the superfluous comminuted material, and Yalso provide a uniform distribution of the same over the adhesivesurface. In instances where an exceptional smooth surface or finish isdesired, the material -may be brushed to remove superfluous fibers.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such Y changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may befmade as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawingl is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention con-- structed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a schematlc illustration of one form of apparatus which may be employed in practicing the present process; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section of the product produced.

Referrmg now more particularly to the accompanymg drawing, in carrying out the process, the paper or fabric is unrolled in a continuous strip from a roll 1 and thereafter passed over supporting rolls 2. Adjacent one of the supporting rolls 2, and positioned above and transversely of the material, is a blade 3 provided with threaded studs 4 carried in a bracket 5. A hand wheel 6, threaded on the studs 4, serves to adjust the blade 3 vertically with relation to the surface o f the material to be treated.

Whlle various methods of applying an adhesive coating to the face of the material may be employed, it has been found preferable to accompllsh this step of the process by util1z1ng a water-proof adhesive composition in a more or less plastic state. The composition is first formed into a sausage or roll 7 which 1s placed transversely upon the material in front of the blade 3. As the material is then fed past the blade by means of the feed roller 8, the sausage 7 Will rotate upon the surface of the materlal and a portion of the same adhere thereto. Obviously, as the adhesive materlal diminishes, the same is replaced by a fresh roll.

From the adhesive applying apparatus, the materlal passes into a housed compartment 9 through the opening 10 provided in the front end thereof. Thus,- the housing 9 extends vii above and below the material,the lower portion having lnclined end portions 11 to di- ""2 rect the loose material towards the central portion of the bottom, as will be hereinafter described.

Mounted upon the housing 9, and projectd tioned adistributing roll 13 which, upon rotation, will cause the comminuted material to be delivered into the compartment.

Positioned transversely within the housing 9, adjacent its front and rear ends, are a pair of headers 14 which are provided with perforations or nozzles 15 through which jets of air are directed downwardly upon the material, as indicated by the dotted arrows. Air is supplied'to the headers by means of a fan 16, or any suitable type of compressor.

It will be noted from the drawing that the jets ofair delivered from the headers are directed towards a common point. Thus, as the comminuted material is delivered from the hopper 12, lthe same will fall into the line of the forward jets, which will direct it downwardly upon the material and cause an intimate contact between the comminuted ad- .iesive coating on the material. The rear jet facilitates such action and prevents the fine comminuted particles from being blown off of the adhesive surface.

For the purpose of further obtaining an even distribution of the comminuted particles upon the surface of the material treated, the material is subjected to an agitation or beating, which operation is accomplished by a series of rotating beaters 17, the ends, of which'as they rotate engage the material and y cause a tapping action upon the same. Naturally, due to the jets of air pick,1 l;ij':`.up the fine particles of comminuted material and bccause of the agitation "of the other material, a certain portion of the comminuted sub- `=tance will accumulate within the bottom of the housing, and therefore for the Vpurpose of utilizing such deposited substance and avoid.- ing Waste, the fan 16 may be connected with the' lower portion of the housing through the pipe 16', and thus pick up the deposited particles and carry them back to the material through the headers 14. While this feature is one of economy, it in no way eii'ects or con# stitutes one of the steps of the present process.

It is to be noted that the comminuted substance is applied to the surface of the material to be treated in the housing, and that the material being treated is agitated Aor beaten thatin addition to drying the material, the heating coils 19 will also effect a vulcanization of the adhesive material to insure maximum adherence of the comminuted substance to the material treated. In other instances, the aper fabric ma be vulcanized after coating the outside fa ric.

From the foregoing explanation it will be readil seen that the process described will provi e a paper or fabric having a sude-like surface of smooth, attractive appearance, and becauseeof the properties of the adhesive anrl comminuted substance applied to the material, the same will be provided with a substantial waterproof and durable finish.

I claim:

1: A process of the class described cor.- sisting of applying an adhesive coating to a sheet of paper or fabric, distributing comminuted material upon the coated surface of the sheet, sub]ecting the sheet to converging tblasts of air and subjecting the sheet to agitanion.

2. A process of the class described consist: ing of applying an adhesive coating to a sheet of paper or fabric, distributing comminuted material upon the coated surface of the sheet, sub3ecting the sheet to converging blasts of air and agitating the sheet on opposite sides A -of the converging blasts of air'.

3z A process Aof the class described consisting of applying ali adhesive coating to a sheet of paper or fabric, passing the coated sheet through a closed caslng, applying comminuted material in the casing to the sheet, subjecting the sheet to converging blasts of air in rear of the comminuted material, and

simultaneously subjecting the sheet to agitation on each side of the converging blasts of air.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Wausau, in the county of Marathon and State of Wisconsin.

ANDRE BURNETT.

likewise in the housing. Thus, the material being treated is simultaneously beaten and lprilpkled with the comminuted substance or After the comminuted material has been evenly distributed upon the adhesive surface of the material treated, the same passes from the compartment 9 through a rear opening 18, and thence to the overheating or drying coils 19. From the drying coils, the material may pass directly to a winding roll 20, or in instances where it is desired to obtain an especially smoothl surface, the treated surface of the material may be subjected to a brushing by a rotary brush 21 enclosed ina housing 22, from which the excess material removed by the brush may be drawn olf and utilized again. However, it is to be understood that the present method may be practiced either with or without brushing.

Attention is further directed to' the fact lio 

